Short Summary

THE FIRST LIBERIAN NUNS EVER TO BE ORDAINED TOOK THEIR FINAL VOWS IN A CEREMONY IN MONROVIA'S SACRED HEARTS CATHEDRAL LAST TUESDAY (12 AUGUST).

Description

THE FIRST LIBERIAN NUNS EVER TO BE ORDAINED TOOK THEIR FINAL VOWS IN A CEREMONY IN MONROVIA'S SACRED HEARTS CATHEDRAL LAST TUESDAY (12 AUGUST). THE THREE NUNS, SISTER ROSE GABRIEL, MARY CAROLYN AND MARY LAURENE, WERE ORDAINED INTO THE BERNADINE SISTERS ORDER OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

THE CEREMONY WAS OFFICIATED BY ARCHBISHOP FRANCIS CARROLL BEFORE A NUMBER OF DIGNITARIES INCLUDING LIBERIA'S FIRST LADY, MRS ANTOINETTE TUBMAN.

IN TAKING THEIR FINAL VOWS, THE THREE NUNS SWORE POVERTY, CHASTITY AND OBEDIENCE IN THE FRANCISCAN COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO PUBLICLY DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO THE WORSHIP OF GOD AND THE SERVICE OF MAN.

ARCHBISHOP CARROLL THEN GAVE THE THREE BERNADINE SISTERS CANDLES AS A SYMBOL OF CHRIST'S STATEMENT TO HIS DISCIPLES THAT "YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD".

FOLLOWING THE TWO-HOUR CEREMONY, FRIENDS AND RELATIVES OF THE SISTERS CONGRATULATED THEM FOR WHAT THEY SAID WAS AN ACT OF COURAGE IN BEING THE FIRST THREE LIBERIAN NUNS TO BE ORDAINED.

THE SISTERS ALL HOLD DEGREES IN EDUCATION FROM UNIVERSITIES IN THE UNITED STATES AND ARE GRADUATES OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA IN LIBERIA.